I’ve been reviewing water filters for about 10 years. During that time, I’ve become convinced that gravity-fed, carbon block filters are the best choice for almost everyone’s filtering needs. Faucet-mounted and pitcher-style filters do not filter water particularly well.

Almost all popular shower filters available today only remove 20% – 80% of free chlorine (not total combined chlorine) from your shower. This includes shower filters that are certified by the NSF #177 Standard — unfortunately this standard only indicates that a filter will remove 50% of free chlorine in the water.

The best way to remove fluoride from tap water is to use a filter containing Brimac (or bone char) — these filters will consistently remove 90% of fluoride from water. Another good option is use a Propur drip filter — these filters make use of AquaMetix a new proprietary carbon-based filtration technology — these filters will remove 50% – 85% of fluoride.

Portable water filters have improved in recent years — manufacturers are now producing portable filters that can filter contaminant the size of nanometers (a billionth of a meter). Portable water filters have improved in recent years — manufacturers are now producing units that filter contaminants the size of nanometers (a billionth of a meter). I review the best portable water filters available today.

This is one of our “Buy It For Life” posts where we feature products that are built to last a lifetime. Duralex Picardie Tumblers Duralex has been manufacturing tempered glassware in France since 1929. Their Picardie Tumblers are known for lasting decades — they will bounce several times when dropped on the floor and survive without a crack. The tumblers …